Robot in the ER

10 posts · started Jun 17, 2010

Teeituptom Jun 17, 2010, 2:47 PM
Well they went and did it. A new toy. A new ploy. We now have a remote controlled robot in the ER. Its purpose thus far is to act as a tool for neurology to do stroke assessments even faster yet in establishing TPA administration. They are also looking at it as to greeting patients coming into triage so as to decrease their door to doctor time. Which is 15 minutes already. Yes it is a cute shiny, toy.
I suppose overall this is a plus for the department. It certainly is a cute thing. I will see how well it works.
My Main concern is if you already have an altered mental status, whether it is stroke,head injury, sepsis, dementia, republican, intoxicated. high, stoned. or whatever.cant you imagine how strange it is to look up and see a remote controlled robot examine and talk to you. To me that would be a serious Freak Out.
Or as one of the female nurses voiced a concern. You can not tell what that remote controlled robot is looking at. How do I know if they are looking at my cleavage or not. I laughed quietly at that concern.
What do you all think of remotely operated robots.
Kdog Jun 17, 2010, 3:50 PM
A hospital I worked in NY has a Pharmacist Robot since 2002, he reads the MD orders and bar code scans and fills the med cassettes w 99.9% no errrors. Very cool and his speed far excedes a human. I believe he was a million dollars which over 1 year improved the pharmacy flow and saved money.So, the advantage is fewer staff pharmacists needed and the ones they had circulated on the floors to help nurses answer questions. and the humans still had to mix the odd ball stuff, like chemo etc.
I saw another Robot that was a pick up delivery for lab and pharmacy, very cool.
Aaron C. Jun 17, 2010, 5:36 PM
Would be funny to see the reaction of someone in there who is really high, seeing that robot!

You should post a picture!
Grandma-RN Jun 18, 2010, 2:55 AM
I personally have seen a robot in one of the hospitals that is in my state. I was sitting in the hallway waiting for my brother, who was on the cardiac floor, to return from the bathroom. And the elevator opened and it was a large sliver robot and my eyes got so big! It went and delivered something to the floor and returned to the elevator and left. Oh my stars I thought. Soon there is a "nursing shortage" will not be in order because we will be replaced by machines. Let me say, machines have their places but come on, let us be weary of their place before humans who need jobs.

Great food for thought thread.